Legendary Shandy
When it’s getting a little toasty out — seriously, the weather here has been ridiculous — there’s almost nothing better than a nice, cold beer. Cool, crisp, refreshing and pretty much everything you would ever need to ensure relief from any sudden onset heat waves. Unless, of course, you want something a tad more acidic. During my childhood, my go-to hot weather beverage was lemonade. Now, if only there was a way we could combine them together to make the ultimate hot weather beverage. Never fear, now there is with the Legendary Shandy.
I know what you might be thinking, “Wait just a second, you’ve done a Radler, which is basically just a German shandy. How is this any different?” Fancy you should ask that. Easy, because it’s (wait for it) legendary!
What makes it so legendary? Well, you’re not just getting pure lemonade and beer here, no sir! What you’re getting is a cool, crisp refreshing beer with a Japanese influenced Lemon Drop.
Why Japanese influenced? Another fine inquiry. Mostly because, for this, we choose one of our favorite easy-drinking beers: Sapporo. I shouldn’t have to tell you it’s Legendary Biru! (Or if I do, their marketing hasn’t quite hit you yet. Give it time, it will.)
When Alice and I last visited Japan (she lived there for a while too, I’m still envious), Sapporo was far and away my favorite of the big Japanese brewers. Every place we went, I’d work my poor Japanese skills and order a “nama biru” (draft beer) and was pleased when it was Sapporo on tap.
With the Legendary Shandy, you’re getting the lemon and rice hints from the Sapporo complimented by the sake (hello doubling down the rice flavor) and lemonade (and there’s our double on lemon) to make for a cool, refreshing libation.
Now, let’s get Legendary!
- ¾ oz. lemon juice
- ½ oz. simple syrup
- ½ oz. sake
- Sapporo
- Lemon peel
- Glass type: old-fashioned
- Combine lemon juice, simple syrup and sake to your shaker with ice.
- Shake.
- Add big ol’ piece of ice to your old-fashioned.
- Strain into your prepared glass.
- Top with legendary biru.
- Kanpai!